A weekly report on happenings in Missouri’s state government. Aside from noting actions of locally-elected officials Rep. Nate Walker (R-003), Rep. Craig Redmon (R-004) and Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-18), this is a summary of important bills and votes from the Missouri House and Senate.

Tracking Walker

Rep. Walker filed House Bill 576 that adds dissolution of marriage proceedings to the list of items exempt from a current state statute that enacts an automatic stay of court proceedings for members of the Missouri General Assembly. The law currently places an automatic stay in certain cases, with exceptions such as the member being charged with a felony or class A misdemeanor.

Tracking Redmon

Rep. Redmon co-sponsored House Bill 618, which would change laws regarding the State Park Earnings Fund and establish the Renewable Energy Pilot Program for State Parks, which would create a pilot program aiming to operate state parks with renewable energy technology.

Tracking Munzlinger

Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Sen. Munzlinger, moved toward a floor vote in the last week. After being pulled from the consent calendar, the bill that would exempt farm work by children under age 16 from certain child labor requirements, passed through the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor

Resources Committee and was scheduled to be read for perfection on the Senate floor Monday. That represents one of the final steps prior to a Senate vote and movement to the House.

Introduced this week: Senate

SB 295: Would prohibit political subdivisions from restricting paid members of fire departments or fire districts from supporting or opposing any political party, candidate, or petition while off duty and not in uniform.

SJR 19: While state law prohibits the governor or treasurer from serving more than two four-year terms in Missouri, other statewide offices are not currently subjected to term limits. Senate Joint Resolution 19 proposes a constitutional amendment to include offices of lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor in the list of those barred from more than two terms.

SB 298: Would create a publicly-financed campaign fund for legislative and statewide candidates. Candidates who take the public option would be barred from accepting private contributions.

Introduced this week: House

HB 537: Would enact a new provision in state statutes regarding hunting accidents. A hunter who inflicts injury by firearm or other weapon to another person previously could be prevented from obtaining a hunting license for up to five years. HB 537 would allow the state to deny an individual a license for up to 10 years if the inflicted injury results in death.

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HB 546: Increases cigarette tax from 17 cents per pack by four cents per pack for the next four years, until the tax reaches 33 cents. Money generated from the additional tax would be deposited into the state’s general revenue fund.

HB 585: Co-sponsored by Rep. Walker, the bill would establish Nov. 21 each year as “Stan Musial Day” in Missouri and encourages Missourians to observe the day with “appropriate events and activities in honor and respect of ‘Stan the Man…’”

HB 615: Co-sponsored by Rep. Walker, the bill would revise Missouri statutes to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the list of prohibited basis for discrimination in housing, restaurant service, public facilities, employment, etc.

Votes of the week

Senate Bill 42, sponsored by Sen. Munzlinger, passed the Senate in a 34-0 vote on Thursday and received a second reading in the House on Friday.

State law requires county jail prisoners to repay the costs of their board. Sen. Munzlinger’s bill would allow income tax refunds and lottery payouts due to those delinquent in payment to be seized by the state. Further, it would deny those with unpaid jail debts from obtaining concealed carry endorsements and hunting/fishing licenses.

Tracking SB 13

A Daily Express reader requested tracking of Senate Bill 13, which would eliminate solid waste management districts and the Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee. Money previously allocated for grants to the districts will be allocated for grants to cities, counties and providers of solid waste management, waste reduction, recycling or related services, according to the bill summary. Those monies would be awarded by the Department of Natural Resources.

The bill was assigned to the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee and passed a committee vote on Feb. 5. It has not yet been placed on the Senate calendar.

Tracking HB 110

There has been no action on the legislation that would change how statewide office vacancies are filled.

After being fast-tracked through the House, it was last referred to the Senate Financial and Government Organizations and Elections Committee on Feb. 5.

HB 110 would allow the governor to make an appointment, but that appointee would serve only until the next General Election and would not be eligible to seek election to that office.

On Feb. 10, Missouri Republicans in the 8th Congressional District nominated Rep. Jason Smith for the recently-vacated U.S. House seat. Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder had also been in the running, but failed to garner the needed support for the nomination.

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Tracking HB 256 (and 305)

Rep. Walker’s bill extending expiration dates on certain closed records through 2016 was replaced by HB 256, an identical bill that was filed prior to 305.

The bill, aimed at security procedures that became part of public record when a provision to close those records sunset on Dec. 31, 2012, passed the House this week, 148-3 (Rep. Walker and Rep. Redmon voting in favor) and was sent to the Senate.

Have a bill you’d like us to track? Contact us at dailyexpresseditor@gmail.com.